• Podcast
    • Time Out
  • My Diary
    • Mommy Confessions
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Food
  • Money
  • NPD
  • Dear Carmen
  • home
  • i’m carmen
  • fa-q
  • get in touch
  • home
  • i’m carmen
  • fa-q
  • get in touch
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

It's Carmen Time!

Adulting Without Going Cray or Setting Things on Fire

  • Podcast
    • Time Out
  • My Diary
    • Mommy Confessions
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Food
  • Money
  • NPD
  • Dear Carmen
  • home
  • i’m carmen
  • fa-q
  • get in touch

Down Time For Kids: The Benefits of Alone Time, Free Play, and Daydreaming

You are here: Home / Raising Your Human / Down Time For Kids: The Benefits of Alone Time, Free Play, and Daydreaming

07.20.20 //  by Carmen Sakurai

I’m a strong supporter of down time for children.

As parents, we want to give our children the opportunity to participate in various, interesting activities, and as such, kids today live a highly organized and scheduled life. Believe me, I’ve lived this. At one point, my child had at least one extracurricular activity daily, from Monday to Saturday!

And there’s nothing wrong with filling our children’s time with healthy activities, as long as they also have the down time opportunities to unwind and relax.

Stress, overwhelm, and burnout is common for children and adults alike. Relaxation is a key ingredient for maintaining good mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health; so it’s an important life skill to teach our children.

A Case Study.

I believe “play” is the child’s equivalent to “work”, so I began encouraging down time for my son when he was only a few months old.

I took down his colorful mobiles, removed his crib toys, switched on the box fan to drown out other sounds, and allowed him to just lay there for about 10-15 minutes while I folded laundry across the room.

During this time, he would look around, explore his fingers & toes, and hear himself babble & coo – basically just relaxing & hanging out. I’m quite certain this routine contributed in making a happy, relaxed, and very focused baby! My son is now 13 and still makes time to recharge and get centered!

Let Children Daydream.

Give kids the chance to let their mind wander. Allow their brain some free time from worries & expectations of the day, as well as from interruptions from video games, TV & other electronic distractions. Encourage kids to let their mind float freely through random thoughts, as well as to quiet their mind, for a positive, productive daydreaming.

Let Children Have Time Alone.

This is crucial for the development of independence. Alone time empowers kids to truly enjoy being creative in the moment as well as encourage self-sufficiency. Kids who learn this are able to face time on their own without feeling sadness or panic. For younger kids, alone time is when they are able to relax or entertain themselves without help from parents & caregivers.

Let Children Free Play.

Games with few rules and ones initiated by children helps kids unwind. Of course, adult guidance and supervision may be necessary depending on age.

Let Children Just Flow.

This is the mental state we find ourselves in when we’re so absorbed in an activity that we don’t notice how much time has passed. Encourage your child to find activities they enjoy & allow them to get lost in it. This is an excellent method to relieving stress & anxiety.

Let Children Unwind Around Bedtime.

Practice a bedtime routine to help calm your child down. You can share this time with them by reading, telling stories, and even drawing & coloring. Unwinding before bed also helps kids get better sleep & rest.

Teach By Example.

Children learn best by imitating you. Try to keep your schedules under control and make time to relax & unwind. Not only will this be a good example for your kids, but good for your own sanity!

 

Originally posted on Ricky Martin’s Piccolo Universe

 
P.S. Lemme know what you think!
Carmen Sakurai

Carmen is a mom, certified professional life strategist, breakup recovery coach, religion teacher, best selling author, foodie wannabe, and advocate for victims of narcissistic abuse. She is currently living la vida loca in Vegas with her not-so-little human… while pseudo-adulting, Tahitian dancing, and exploring the delicious world of bubble tea *woo!*

itscarmentime.net

Category: Raising Your Human

Disclosure: ItsCarmenTime.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Previous Post: « Don’t Chase People
Next Post: Alone Doth Not a Relationship Status of Single Make… »

Primary Sidebar

Adulting 101: “Support group” to help grown-ups do life… without burning out or setting things on fire.

Oh, Hai… I’m Carmen

Certified Professional Life Strategist. Breakup Recovery Coach, Best Selling Author. Foodie Wannabe. Advocate for Victims of NPD Abuse.
This blog is to compensate for my lack of adult-interaction. There, I said it.

my podcast!


itunes overcast rss

Raising Your Human

  • It’s OK to Not be OK
  • Down Time For Kids: The Benefits of Alone Time, Free Play, and Daydreaming
  • How I Helped My Son Develop Empathy at an Early Age
  • 23 Of The Most Important Life Skills I Have Taught My Only Child
  • Breaking Your Child’s Bad Habits Without Shaming
  • That One Time When My “A” Student Got a “C”
  • 5 Non-Academic Skills Children Must Learn to Succeed
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • >>

Reverse the clock…


Just 2 scoops a day with your coffee, smoothie, or yogurt… and watch your hair, skin, and nails get healthier!

Thicker, longer hair!


Vegetarian, gluten-free, gelatin free… take 2 juicy berry flavored gummies a day for thicker, longer hair!

My Etsy Shop!

etsy.com/shop/LittleEyeCandy

Secondary Sidebar

boost energy & lose weight!


2 Gummies = 1 ACV Shot for energy, skin, immunity, & weight!

Categories

  • Dear Carmen
  • Diary
  • Education
  • Faith
  • Food
    • Recipes
  • Freebies
  • Health / Wellness
  • IGTV
  • Life Hacks
  • Mommy Confessions
  • Money
    • Save Money
    • Side Hustles
  • Narcissistic Abuse
  • Podcast
    • Time Out
  • Raising Your Human
  • Relationships
  • Reviews

follow me in feedly

Footer

it’s carmen time!

  • Podcast
    • Time Out
  • My Diary
    • Mommy Confessions
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Food
  • Money
  • NPD
  • Dear Carmen

let’s hang out!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

adulting 101

A “support group” to help grown-ups do life without burning out or setting things on fire.
 
Yasss!

  • home
  • i’m carmen
  • fa-q
  • get in touch


Copyright © 2006–2020 ITSCARMENTIME.NET & Carmen Sakurai. All Rights Reserved.
Surviving Single Motherhood One #Facepalm at a Time is a Trademark of Carmen Sakurai
Built on Genesis · Hosted by KnownHost · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

We use cookies to customize content and give you the best experience possible. If you continue to use our site, we'll assume that you accept our terms. Got It!
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.